Mr Matsuoka Boldly Lays Claim to Oceania

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 49, 26 February 1941, Page 7

Mr Matsuoka Boldly Lays Claim to Oceania

Migration Region for Asiatics Japan Believes She Has Natural Right United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Tuesday, 8 p.m. LONDON, February 24. A Tokio message reports that Mr. Matsuoka (Foreign Minister) told the Diet to-day that, while Japan was without a definite programme relative to the establishment of her greater East Asia co-prosperity sphere, he hoped to obtain Oceania as a migration region for Asiatics through an understanding with the European and American peoples. In this connection, Mr. Matsuoka recalled his individual efforts with The Hague Government relative to New Guinea after Japan’s withdrawal from the League of Nations; also in his discussions relative to Oceania as a whole with President Wilson after America’s entrance into the World War. Mr. Matsuoka also informed Parliamentarians that he was even now taking every opportunity to stress his viewpoint to European and American intelligentsia and statesmen. “ While it is difficult to conduct political affairs according to advocated ideals, I believe that the white race must cede Oceania to the Asiatics,” said Mr. Matsuoka. ‘‘My theory is that Oceania, which measures 1200 miles from north to south and 1000 miles from east to west, must be made a place to which the Asiatic peoples can migrate. This region has sufficient natural resources to support between 600-million and 800-million people. We believe we have a natural right to migrate there.” At Washington geographical experts evaluated Mr. Matsuoka s elaim to Oceania for Asiatics as including Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Samoa and Tahiti. The well-known definitions of Oceania include Melanesia and Polynesia and sometimes Malaysia. From the context. .Mr. Matsuoka’s pretentious aspirations apparently extend over the entire range of the Pacific from Hawaii to Australia.